Apparatus for nitrating sulfur dioxid.



N0; 850,820. 7 PATBNTED APR. 16, 1907.

P. J. DERRIG. APPARATUS FOR NITRATING SULFUR DIOXID.

APPLIUATION FILED SEPT. 5. 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1- 11 e Invenior;

PATENTED APR. 16, 1907.

P. J. DERRIG.

APPARATUS FOR NITEATING SULFUR DIOXID.

APPLIUATION FILED 816F125. 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

' In ve ni or Pa Zzzz'cic Jfle ZQtZrwss-eo b 12:1 7 dig J LII of nitrating PAlltlCl'x'l J. :lHQ RRIG, OF )(Oltiii "EYMOUTH, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNCR TO TI-ilil AfvfERlCAN AGE[CULTURAL CHEMICAL COMPANY. OF NEW YORK, N. Y, A CCRPOPATIUN OF CONNECTICU APPQRATUS FOR NITRATING SULFUR D OXID.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April I6, 19-2.

Application filed September 5.1905 Serial No- 276,917.

To m/ll 11-hour i/ lrmy mum/1'71 Be it known that f, Plx'rmcir citizen of the United N orth l'Veymouth and State of Massz'tchusctts, have invented an improvement in Apparatus for Nitrating Sulfur Dioxid, of which. the following description, in connection. with the accompanying drz'twings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

My invention relates to the m anufacture of sulfuric acid, and is concerned particularly with improvr-unonts in the apparatus for nitrating or supplying the necessary oxids of nitrogen to the sulfur dioxid in the wellknown leadchamber process. The method at present practiced in this processconsists in providing so-calied niterwithin suitable chambers interposed J. .DERRIG, a States, residing at pots between the pyritcs burner and the flue lcading to the Glover tower, these pots containing a mixture of sodium nitrate and sulfuric acid, which when subjected to heat from the pyriteafurnacc is decomposed in. the presence of air mainly into oxids of nitrogen and sodium sulfate. This method of nitrating by potting, as it is called, is extremely unsatisfactory, since the heat from the burners frequently causes the above reaction to talze place all at once andwithout the possibility of control or regulation with respect to the varying needs of the process. Furthermore, this process is wasteful and uncleanly and re sults in the production of the ob ectionable inter-cake, which must be effectually disposed of where it can do no harm to surroundmg objects.

The object of my invention is to obviate these defects and to that end contcnmlates furnishing the nitrating material in the form of a solution, the-supply of which can at all times be regulated in accordance with the requirements of the process and the residue of which material footed may be and to a storage-receptaclc.

My invention will be best understood from a description of one particular embodiment thereof which has herein been selected for the purpose of illustration and is shown in the accompanying drawings, and its after 'nitrating' has been ef-- conveniently conducted awayin the/county of Norfolk I In the drawings, Figure l a view of a portion of the so-called chamber apparatus, showing myimproved nitrating device interposed between the pyrites-furnace and the Glover tower; and Fig. 2 is a similar view of the apparatus, but showing the nitrating de vice located between the Glover tower and the first lead-chamber.

1n the embodiment of my invention herein selected for illustration the portion of the wellknown lead-chamber apparatus shown in Fig. 1 comprises a portion 1 of a bank. of pyrite-furnaces of any desired construction and a Glover tower 2, communication between the furnaces and tower being effected through the usual flue 3.

For the purpose of supplying the necessary oxids of nitrogen to the volumes of sulfur dioxid supplied by the pyritcs-furnaces to theGlovcr tower instead ,of employing the old form of niter-pots within the furnaces 1 1 have devised a convenient form of nitrating apparatus,- (shown'at 4,) which may be locatcd between the furnace 1 and the tower 2, as shown in Fig. l, or between the tower 2 and the first lead-chamber 5, as shown in Fig. 2. The structure of the nitrating device is in both cases the same, the only difference between the two residing in the direction of flow of the gases theretl'irough, the flow in the arrangemmit shown in Fig. 1 being from the bottom to the top of the device and in Fig. 2 from the top to the bottom.

The structure of the device being substantially the same in both cases, a description of one will suffice for both.

.lieferring to Fig. l, the device consists of an outertube or shell supported in any suit able manner, as upon the flue 3, and prcferably, but not necessarily, cylindrical in crosssection and of considerably less diameter than the Glover tower, with which it communicates, the proportion being about one to five. The nitrating apparatus may, if desired, communicate directly with the first lcz'uhchamber, as by a pipe 1?. (Shown in dotted outline, Fig. .1.) 'Comn'iunication effected between the flue 3 and the bottom of the nitrating device by means of a pipe ('5, through which a portion of the sulfuralioxhl scope will be gas from the furnaces 1 flows into the base of pointed out in the appended claims.

the nitrating device, the pipe entering the de- ICC .pipe at the top of the vice just below a grating or grille 7 therein.

Supported above the top of the nitrating device 4 is a vessel 8, adapted to contain a solution of 'sodium nitrate in sulfuric acid, which lied to the nitratmg-tube through a a is sup plurality of small pipes 9, luted into the top plate 10 thereof. The interior of the nitratmg-tube is filled with a ll of crushed quartz or coke for the purpose of finely dividing and distributing the entire, solution throughout the compel the sulfur dioXid entering at the bottom of the tube to pass up through the same in intimate contactwith said solution. In

its passage up through the nitrating-tube the sulfur dioxid is brought by the quartz or coke filling into intimate contact with the down flowing solution. of sodium nitrate, whereby, owing to the heat of the sulfur gas, the nitrate solution is denitrated, and the combined sulfur dioxid and nitrous fumes pass out of the :iitratingetube 4 into and through the upper portion of the Glover tower, from which the gases pass on to the lead-chan'ibers. It is to be understood, however, that the greater volume of sulfur dioxid passes directly from the furnaces through the flue 3 into the Glover tower in the usual manner and is there brought into contact with the nitrous vitriol supplied from the Gay-lnissac tower in a mam'ier well known to those familiar with this process. The supply of sodiumnitrate solution from the vesselfi to the nitrating-tube 4 may be regulated in any suitable manner, as by a cook 13, located in the tubes 9. The surplus acid. flowing from the nitrating-tube 4 is received in a pan 14 at the bottom of said tube and is ionducted thererom by a line of piping 15 to any suitable point-as, for instance, to the vessel 15.

In an apparatus of the above description ni'trating material may be supplied to ,the

usual manner, while at the same time the sodium-nitrate solution from the vessel 2 also passes down in intimate contact with the gases, and the surplus fluid flows away from the nitrating device through the tube 15, as before descmbed.

While theform of my invention here shown comprises the best. embodiment thereof now known to me, it is to be understood that the cross area of the tube 4 to l l l acid a furnace for supplying z Glover toweradapted to receive sulfumdrinvention is not confined to the embodiment shown.

I claim 1. In apparatus for manufacturing sulfuric acid,.a furnace for supplying sulfur dioxid, a chamber succeeding thereto and adaptedto receive sulfur dioxid from said furnace, a ni trating-chamber in communication with said furnace and with said first-mentioned chamber and adapted to receive sulfur dioxid from said furnace and to conduct the same to said lirstanentioned chamber and a receptacle connected with said nitrating-chamber and adapted to discharge thereinto a solution of nitrating liquid, said receptacle being out of free communication with said first-mentioned chamber.

2. In apparatus for manufacturing sulfuric acid, a furnace for supplying sulfur dioxid, a Glover tower adapted to receive sulfur dioxid from said furnace, a lead-chamber succeeding said Glover tower and in communication therewith, a nitrating-chamber having an inlet and outlet of relatively'small crosssection and adapted to receive sulfur dioxid and to-discharge the same, a receptacle connected with said chamber and adapted to discharge thereinto a solutionof nitrating liq uid, said receptacle being out of free commu nication with said Glover tower.

3. In apparatus for manufacturing sulfuric acid, a furnace for supplying sulfur dioxid, a Glover tower adapted to receive sulfur dioxid from said furnace, a lead-chamber in communication with said Glover tower, a nitrating-chamber having an inlet and an out let of materially less cross-section than that of said nitrating-chamber and ads. ted to r ceive sulfur dioxid and to disc same, a'receptacle connected with said chamber and adapted to discharge thereinto a nitrating solution, said receptacle being out of free communication with said Glover tower.

4. In apparatus f or manufacturing sulfuric arge the acid, a furnace for supplying sulfur dioxid, a

Glover tower adapted to receive sulfur dioxid from said furnace, alead-chamber succeeding said Glover tower and in communication therewith, a nitrating-chamber adapted to receive sulfur dioxid and to discharge the same, a receptacle connected with said chamher and adapted to discharge thereinto a solution of nitrating liquid, said receptacle being -outof free communication with said Gloventower, and provisions for conveying surplus acid from storage-receptacle.

'5. In apparatus for manufacturing sdlfuric sulfur dioxid, a

oxid from said furnace, a lcad-chainber in communication withsaid Glover tower, a nitrating-chambcr having an i let and an outlet of materially ess cross section than that the nitrating-chamber to astor of said nitrating-chamber and adapted to receive sulfur dioXid and to discharge the same, a receptacle connected with said chamber and adapted to discharge thereinto a ni trating solution, said receptacle being out of free communication with said Glover tower, and provisions for preventing surplus acidv from passing into the sulfuric-acid system.

6. In apparatus for manufacturin sulfuric acid, a furnace for supplying sulfur dioxid, a Glover tower adapted to receive -sulfur dioxid from said furnace, a lead-chamber succeeding said Glover tower and in communication therewith, a nitrating-chamber having a mass of finely-divided distributing material therein, said n'i-trating-chaniber being adapted to receive sulfur dioxid and to dis chargethe same, a receptacle connected with said chamber and adaptedto discharge thereinto a solution. of nitrating liquid, said receptacle being out of free communication with said Glover tower. a

7. In apparatus for manufacturing sulfuric acid, a furnace for supplying sulfur dioXid, a Glover tower adapted to receive sulfur di-' oXid from said furnace, a lead-chamber succeeding said Glover tower and in communication therewith, a nitrating-chamber adapted to receive sulfur dioXid and to discharge the same, a receptacle connected with said chamber and gravity spraying means'for conveying nitrating liquid therefrom to said chamber, said receptacle being out of free communication with said Glover tower.

8. In apparatus for manufacturing sulfuric acid, a furnace for supplying sulfur dioxid, a chamber succeeding thereto and adapted to receive sulfur (liOXlCl from said furnace, a nitrating-chamber in communication with said furnace and the said first mentioned chamber and adapted to receive sulfur dioxid from said furnace and to conduct the same to said first-mentioned chamber, a receptacle connected with said nitrating-chamber and adapted to discharge thereinto a solution of nitrating liquid andmeans for conducting surplus acid from said nitrating-chamber to a storage-receptacle.

9. In apparatus for manufacturing sulfuric acid, a furnace for supplying sulfur dioxid, a Glover tower adapted to receive sulfur dioxid from said furnace, a lead-chamber succeeding said Glover tower and in communication tl'lOl'fiWltl'l, a nitratingcharnher adapted to receive sulfur dioXid and to df'ischar the same. a receptacle connected witi'i. said nitraem -chamber and. adapted to discharge therein to a solution of nitrating liquid, said receptacle being out of free communication with said Glover tower and means for con-- duct ng sur'plus acid from said chamber to a .-recepta .tle extraneous to the sulfuricacid systemg p 0. In apparatus for manufacturing sul-' i l i I I fluid, said receptaclebeing out of iree com-- municatioirwitn said Glover tower and provisions for conveying surplus acid from the mtrating-chamber to a storage-receptacle extraneous to the sulfuric-acid system.

11. In apparatus for manufacturmg sulfuric acid, a furnace for supplying sulfur dioxid, a Glover tower adapted to receive sulfur dioxid from said furnace, a lead-chamber succeeding said Glover tower and in com munication therewith,- a nit-rating-chamber adapted to receive sulfur dioxid and to hscharge the same, a receptacle connected with said nitrating-chamber and adapted to discharge thereinto a regulated quantity of urtrating fluid, said receptacle being out of free communication with said Glover tower, and

means for conveying surplus acid from said nitrating-chamber to a storage-receptacle extraneous to said sulfuric-acid system.

12. In apparatus for manufacturing-sulfuric acid a furnace for supplying su'ifur dioxid, a Glover tower adapted to receive sulfur dioxid fro1n.said furnace, a nitrating chamber interposed between and in communication with said furnace and said Glover tower, and -a nitrating-solution receptacle connected with said nitrating-chamber and out of free communication with said Glover tower.

13. In apparatus for manufacturing sulfuric acid, a furnace for supplying sulfur dioXid, a Glover tower adapted to receive sulfur dioxid from said furnace, a nitrating chamber interposed between and in coinniu.

nication with said furnace and said. Glover tower, a receptacle connected -with said iii-- trating-chamber and adapted to discharge thoreinto a solution of nitrate of soda, said receptacle being out of free communication withisaid Glover tower, and means for con ducting surplus acid fron'i said nitratingchambcr to a storage-recsptacle. v

14. In apparatus for manufacturing sul-- furic acid, a furnace for supplying sulfur di oxid, a chamber succeeding thereto and in mmnnunication therewith, a nitrating-chamber adapted to receive sulfur dioxid and to discharge the same, means for conveying to said nitratingmhamber a regulated quantity of nitrating fluid and. a conduit for conveying surplus acid from said nitratirig-chamber to a storage-receptacle.

15. 'In apparatus for manufacturing sulfuric acid, a furnace for supplying sulfur dioxid, a chamber succeeding thereto and in communication therewith, a nitrz'tting-chember adapted to receive suliur dioxid and to discharge the same, means for conveymg to said inflating-chamber a. regulated quantity of nit/rating fluid, said cimyeying means l e--' ing out 0i tree communication with the sulfuric-acid system, and a conduit forconveying surplus acid from said n1Hating-chamber to astoragedeceptaele. Y

16. In apparatus for manuiacturing sulfuric acid, a furnace for supplying sulfur dioxid, a Glover tower adapted to receive sulfur dioxid from said furnace, a nitrntingchamber interposed between and in commu- 

